From the Dressing Room: Partick edge Titwood in thriller
All rounder Matt Farr tells the story of the Partick XI’s 7 run victory over Titwood last weekend.
On what is always the biggest game of the season for the Partick XI against Titwood, both teams arrived to wet and windy conditions more in keeping with Autumn than the middle of Summer. Fortunately, the weather forecast proved to be correct and after a brief 30-minute delay, the visiting captain won the toss and asked the hosts to bat.
Partick got off to a strong start with Sam Jakobson (33) and Rauhit Krishnan (22) putting on an opening stand of 53 before Jakobson was joined by James Scott (63). After another handy 50 run partnership Partick were well placed at 119-3 at the midpoint of the innings. Chris Ross (31) then put on another decent partnership with Scott before attempting to hole out and losing his off stump. Scott pushed on the total further supported by a textbook lower order knock from Dave McNulty (20*) before he then to fell to an audacious attempt at a ramp shot. The veteran McNulty then brought the innings home with young debutant Anshu Malik (7*) to set the visitors a more than competitive 227 to win.
After another excellent West tea, Titwood began the chase with real purpose with both openers going well in the 30’s. Assisted by some initially wayward Partick bowling, Titwood were in a strong position at 68-0 before an inspired bowling change by Captain Ross turned the tide. Jonny Williams (4-32) showed why he has recently been called up to the Scotland Over 50 team with a spell of classic off spin to reel Titwood in and leave them at 133-5 with 20 overs remaining.
The visiting captain then put in an innings belying his lower order position to move Titwood back in front of the chase despite the best efforts of Saaid Sufi (1-47) and Malik (1-15) both bowling well on debut despite the game pressure.
With 2 set batsman and Titwood requiring 32 from the last 7 overs, another inspired bowling change from the captain proved to be the decisive moment in the match. After the earlier wayward bowling, Santosh Kadavath (3-46) returned and cleaned bowled the visiting captain with the second ball of his spell to wrestle the game back in Partick’s favour before also cleaning up the Number 9 in his next over.
Pegged back at the other end as well by a miserly spell from McNulty, Titwood were left requiring 9 from the final over with one wicket remaining. Boosted by a large crowd on the clubhouse steps and in the dying light of the West End, Kadavath induced a false shot from the Number 11 where fittingly a juggling Chris Ross took the catch at short cover to spark wild scenes of celebration on the pitch and on the terrace; Partick winning by a mere 7 runs.
The result boosts the Partick XI’s title hopes and leaves the league well poised with 5 games of the season remaining after an unexpected defeat for the leaders Whitehaugh. Partick will hope to take the momentum from one of their best wins in recent years into the Bothwell game next Saturday.
